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Anchors of Greenpoint: The YMCA’s ‘Spirit of Community’ gala honors neighborhood pillars

“A neighborhood goes through many changes, and you need stable organizations that are anchors of a community that people can go to and get assistance while the neighborhood changes. The YMCA has adapted to all the different needs of the different people that have come here,” said Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello. 

One did not need to look at funds raised to tell the night was a success. “This event is one of the best of the year because of the energy, because of the people, because of celebration, because we’re really lifting up those who make this community so great,” said President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York Sharon Greenberger. 

Funds raised at the gala through the cost of attendance, donations or participation in the silent auction will directly support the Greenpoint Y to bolster the wellbeing of its neighbors through financial assistance, scholarships or access to programs and services. 

The Greenpoint Y may be significantly expanding its service in the community, pending the successful construction of the River Ring in Williamsburg, whose plans include a state-of-the-art, 50,000 square foot space for the Y to move into. 

“I think [the expansion] would be amazing for us. It would give us the opportunity to expand programming, serve more people and serve more kids. That would be amazing,” said Greenpoint Y executive director Kendall Charter. 

Charter, who has been with the organization for over 30 years, emphasized the night’s purpose. “This event is about bringing the community together, but we also honor community leaders in our community who do amazing work, and tonight, we honor three amazing community leaders.” 

When Msgr. David L. Cassato took the mic to introduce the night’s first honoree, Bamonte’s, he began with a question; how do you honor a restaurant? “You honor the people who run the restaurant,” said Cassato. 

Restaurant manager Lisa Bamonte said in a teary-eyed speech that Bamonte’s is a place “where neighbors would become friends and strangers would feel at home.”

Liberty recently led a community day at the Greenpoint Y, which hosted Clarke as she read to the youth at the Y day care center. In March, the reigning WNBA champs announced that an $80 million, 75,000 square foot practice facility would be coming to Greenpoint.

“We want to build relationships. We want to learn about needs and ways we can meet their needs and have impact when we have our players live in this community and have our coaches live in this community,” said Clarke. 

Collaboration between public, private and nonprofit entities such as the relationship between Liberty and the Greenpoint Y have always been integral to Greenpoint’s wellbeing. One honoree devoted their service to ensure that these relationships continue to thrive, positioning North Brooklyn as a prime destination to both live and work. 

“The Y does such great work within the community. It’s funny because we’re a business organization, so my focus should be on businesses through and through. But what the Y does for the families and for the kids all filters down into the strength of the community as a whole,” said Sumalski, executive director of the North Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. 

The North Brooklyn Chamber’s Love Local initiative launched at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen the wellbeing of North Brooklyn’s business community amidst a changing landscape. 

The Greenpoint Y and like-minded institutions create the framework for a continued presence of community institutions and the people who make them run and allow them to change. Since its inception, the Y has held community service at its core.